Jeffrey A. Norris has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

Abstract: A wind direction indicator for hunters includes a smoke generator, a housing, an electrical power source, an air pump and a switch all arranged such that the indicator may be actuated by a hunter using a single hand. The smoke generator may be a cartomizer as an example.

Abstract: A wind direction indicator for hunters includes a smoke generator, a housing, an electrical power source, an air pump and a switch all arranged such that the indicator may be actuated by a hunter using a single hand. The smoke generator may be a cartomizer as an example.

Abstract: A wind direction indicator for hunters includes a smoke generator, a housing, an electrical power source, an air pump and a switch all arranged such that the indicator may be actuated by a hunter using a single hand. The smoke generator may be a cartomizer as an example.

Abstract: An electrical combination including a power tool, charger and an adapter separate from and connectable between the battery and the tool housing or battery charger to support the battery on the tool housing or the battery charger, the adapter having adapter leads for electrically coupling the battery to the power tool or the battery charger, the adapter having a mechanical lockout for allowing an electrical coupling between the adapter and the power tool while preventing an electrical coupling between the adapter and the battery charger.

Abstract: A fire activation module for a fire extinguishing system includes an actuation device that has an instantaneous actuation current draw during a suppression event. First and second power leads are connected to the actuation device and have a current capacity less than the instantaneous actuation current draw. At least one capacitor is connected to the actuation device and the power leads. The capacitor is configured to store electricity from the power leads and discharge the electricity to the actuation device during the suppression event.

Abstract: A wind direction indicator for hunters includes a smoke generator, a housing, an electrical power source, an air pump and a switch all arranged such that the indicator may be actuated by a hunter using a single hand. The smoke generator may be a cartomizer as an example.

Abstract: A wiring harness for a fire extinguishing system including a connector that has a pair of power leads and a pair of command leads. At least one zone identification element is in communication with the connector and is configured to provide a zone location assignment to the connector.

Abstract: A wiring harness for a fire extinguishing system including a connector that has a pair of power leads and a pair of command leads. At least one zone identification element is in communication with the connector and is configured to provide a zone location assignment to the connector.

Abstract: A fire activation module for a fire extinguishing system includes an actuation device that has an instantaneous actuation current draw during a suppression event. First and second power leads are connected to the actuation device and have a current capacity less than the instantaneous actuation current draw. At least one capacitor is connected to the actuation device and the power leads. The capacitor is configured to store electricity from the power leads and discharge the electricity to the actuation device during the suppression event.

Abstract: A test system 100 that can accept a plurality of plug-in electronic cards in Xi Slots 126 or PXI slots 134 is described. The test or source measure switching system 100 includes a sequencer or sequence engine 130 which is fully capable of executing opcode instructions having potentially indefinite completion times and monitoring multiple asynchronous inputs simultaneously without interrupts. The sequencer 130 is sequential and deterministic to approximately 10 microsecond resolution. The sequencer 130 includes a trigger router which can be a fully configurable trigger input and trigger output routing matrix. Every trigger input can be configured via several detection modes such as active high, active low, level high and level low. Also, trigger outputs can be configured to be triggered on single, multiple or auto triggers if set.

Abstract: An electrical combination including a power tool, charger and an adapter separate from and connectable between the battery and the tool housing or battery charger to support the battery on the tool housing or the battery charger, the adapter having adapter leads for electrically coupling the battery to the power tool or the battery charger, the adapter having a mechanical lockout for allowing an electrical coupling between the adapter and the power tool while preventing an electrical coupling between the adapter and the battery charger.

Abstract: A switch matrix module (600) includes programmable stub breakers (508-512, 514-518) which can break off the bus and isolate unused portion of the switch matrix. Using three-way stub breakers (508-512, 514-518) at the matrix front-ends that can either completely isolate a middle matrix or cut off stubs left or right of the destination and source matrices, allows for the formation of very large matrices which have improved operational performance.

Abstract: A test system 100 that can accept a plurality of plug-in electronic cards in Xi Slots 126 or PXI slots 134 is described. The test or source measure switching system 100 includes a sequencer or sequence engine 130 which is fully capable of executing opcode instructions having potentially indefinite completion times and monitoring multiple asynchronous inputs simultaneously without interrupts. The sequencer 130 is sequential and deterministic to approximately ten microsecond resolution.

Abstract: A lock system for casement windows is disclosed which includes a tie bar slidably secured to the flame. The tie bat is secured to a lock handle that is also secured to the flame. The tie bat eliminates the need for rollers riveted to the tie bar by having a first bent section disposed between straight sections and a second bent section disposed between straight sections. All of the straight sections are linearly aligned with one another and at least some of the straight sections of the tie bar are slidably mounted to the flame using conventional guides. The lock system also includes first and second strikers mounted to the sash. The first striker comprising a first ramp that receives a first bent section and the second striker comprising a second ramp that receives a second bent section when the tie bat is slidably moved towards the first and second strikers as the tie bar is moved from an unlocked position to a locked position.

Abstract: An HVAC&R system is disclosed that utilizes energy-efficient valving. The valving controls the flow of refrigerant and may be adapted for evaporator or condenser applications, on both AC systems and heat pumps (as well as chillers and other refrigeration systems). The valving may provide simultaneous and individualized control of flow through individual coils or groups of coils for improved control of evaporation, condensation, defrosting and so forth. In some configurations a common sensor may be shared between individual coils or groups of coils and may provide sensed parameters to control circuitry for controlling the valving. Other configurations may include bypass valving to direct fluid around the flow control valving. In yet other configurations, a valve may be used to bypass tapped vapor around a heat exchanger functioning as an evaporator.

Abstract: A test system 100 that can accept a plurality of plug-in electronic cards in Xi Slots 126 or PXI slots 134 is described. The test or source measure switching system 100 includes a sequencer or sequence engine 130 which is fully capable of executing opcode instructions having potentially indefinite completion times and monitoring multiple asynchronous inputs simultaneously without interrupts. The sequencer 130 is sequential and deterministic to approximately 10 microsecond resolution. The sequencer 130 includes a trigger router which can be a fully configurable trigger input and trigger output routing matrix. Every trigger input can be configured via several detection modes such as active high, active low, level high and level low. Also, trigger outputs can be configured to be triggered on single, multiple or auto triggers if set.

Abstract: A test system 100 that can accept a plurality of plug-in electronic cards in Xi Slots 126 or PXI slots 134 is described. The test or source measure switching system 100 includes a sequencer or sequence engine 130 which is fully capable of executing opcode instructions having potentially indefinite completion times and monitoring multiple asynchronous inputs simultaneously without interrupts. The sequencer 130 is sequential and deterministic to approximately ten microsecond resolution.

Abstract: A method for adjusting an economic balance point in a dual fuel HVAC system includes a furnace, a heat pump and a control system. The method comprises providing a control device having a preprogrammed algorithm for controlling the HVAC system, providing a communication path between the control device and at least one component of the HVAC system, and accessing current fuel cost data; determining an economic balance point temperature based on the current fuel cost data; and updating the economic balance point temperature in the preprogrammed algorithm to adjust an actual balance point of the HVAC system.

Abstract: An electrical combination including a power tool, charger and an adapter separate from and connectable between the battery and the tool housing or battery charger to support the battery on the tool housing or the battery charger, the adapter having adapter leads for electrically coupling the battery to the power tool or the battery charger, the adapter having a mechanical lockout for allowing an electrical coupling between the adapter and the power tool while preventing an electrical coupling between the adapter and the battery charger.

Abstract: A housing including a plurality of openings for receiving fiber optic connectors and protecting the polished end face of the connectors from damage while the connectors are stored within a telecommunications connection cabinet. A module with a plurality of optical fiber cables connected to a first optical fiber cable and terminated by a fiber optic connector. Each of the connectors are inserted within openings in a connector holder for storage and protection until the cables need to be connected to a customer equipment cable.